Photographic-print washer



(No Model.)

D. ARGER-BRIGHT;

rnomoemrmo PRINT WASHER.

No. 586,280. Patentd July 13, 1897.

rm: unmus PETERS w, Wuwmmo" \usnmc-wu. or Q- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

DANIEL ARGERBRIGHT, OF TROY, OHIO.

PHOTOGRAPHlC-PRINT WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters. Patent N 0. 586,280, dated July13, 1897'.

Application filed May 25, 1896. Serial No. 593,028. (No model.)

[0 all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL ARGERBRIGHT, a' citizen of the United States,residing at Troy, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic-PrintWashers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for washing photographic prints; andthe object of my invention is to provide a machine in Which photographicprints may be thoroughly and completely immersed in the washing-bath, inwhich they are adapted to be moved gently, so as to separate the printsone from the other While subjected to the action of acontinuous supplyof fresh water or other washing liquid.

In carrying out my invention I employ an automaticintermittently-rotating receptacle having inlet and outlet orificesthrough which thewashin g liquid is admitted and discharged, while thereceptacle is kept completely filled, the device being adapted to beintermittently and slowly rotated to cause the prints to change positionand float gently through the washing-bath. I attain these objects by theconstructions shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isa perspective view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail of aportion of the same. Fig. at isa transversesectional View of amodification. l I

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

Inthe said drawings, or represents the washing-receptacle, which ispreferably made square in cross-section. It may be made of any suitablematerial, the drawings illustrating a wooden box, the parts thereofbeing fitted together so as to make it water-tight. This box issupported on hollow trunnions a and a each of which is preferably madeslightly conical at the end and fitted with a ground joint into a sleeve(0 in the respective ends of the receptacle a. The trunnions a a arescrew-threaded at their outside and adapted to be connected by suitablecouplings a a to hose-pipeso a which furnish the in let and outlet forthe washing liquid.

The box a is preferably supplied with an opening a at one side thereof,having a removable plate 13, adapted to fit said opening and tightlyclose the same through the medium of a rubber or other suitable gasket1), hinged thumb-screws 6 operating in slotted openings 22 in the edgeof the plate, being adapted to hold said plate securely in position andpermit its ready removal by loosening the thumb-screws and turning themback, as indicated at one end in Fig. 2, where the plate is shown brokenaway to more clearly illustrate the construction. This plate is alsopreferably provided with a petcock b to permit the escape of the airfrom the receptacle when the same is being filled, though this airescapeorifice may be located at any other convenient point, if desired.

On the outside of the receptacle a and preferably at the four corners Iplace troughs c, which are adapted to receive the water discharged fromthe discharge-hose a and furnish the means for intermittently rotatingthe receptacle. These troughs c are preferably formed tapering at oneend, as shown at c, the angle of the trough being at that end where thehose or nozzle discharges into the same, so as to form a more completecut-off as the receptacle intermittently rotates, thus insuring thedelivery of the liquid into one trough until the next trough is broughtinto position to receive it.

In order to accomplish the object of my invention, the discharge pipe orhose a is secured and held in the proper position by an adj ustableholder 61, by which the end of said hose pipe or nozzle is raised orheld at a point above the top of the receptacle and at a suitable angleto discharge into the troughs c. This holder cl is preferably made intwo parts d and 01 the part cl being adjustably secured to one of thestandards e, which supports the trunnion a the part 01 being adj ustablysecured in a suitable socket d in the part d, so as to be readilyadjustable to bring the end of the hose or nozzle at the proper angle ofdischarge.

lVithin the receptacle a, at the respective ends, are screens f and f,which may be formed of any suitable material, preferably of brass orgalvanized Wire, to hold back the prints and prevent the same fromcoming into the inlet and outlet openings. Each of these screens isprovided with a solid central porsheet metal of any suitable kind.

tion f which stands immediately opposite the inlet and outlet openingsand forms a deflector which deflects the currents and causes theincoming liquid to be intimately mixed with that contain ed in thereceptacle and prevents any decided currents toward the outlet-opening.These screens are preferably held in position by some suitable meanswhich permits their removal for cleaning or other wise.

In the operation of this device the plate or cover is removed byunloosening the screws and turning them back, as heretofore indicated.The prints are placed through the opening a into the receptacle, whichhas been partially filled with water through the supplyhose a and whichmay be connected to any suitable water-supply. After the prints areplaced therein the receptacle is closed by clamping the plate over theopening, the petcock Z) being opened and water admitted through thesupply-opening until the vessel is completely filled, the air beingexcluded, after-which the petcock Z2 is closed. The water or otherliquid is permitted to flow into the opening until it is discharged atthe discharge end of the outlet hose or pipe a from which it falls intoone of the troughs c. As soon as a sufficient quantity of the liquid haspassed into the trough the receptacle is caused to rotate one-fourth ofa revolution, thus emptying the trough already filled and bringinganother one into position to be filled, This intermittent rotation ofthe receptacle, which is entirely filled with the liquid, will cause theprints to be carried up and slightly agitated, so as to float in thewashing liquid, through which they will again gradually and slowlysettle to the bottom. At each quarterturn they will again be slightlyagitated and caused to float through the liquid, thus separating theindividual prints and bringing them into the action of the incomingwashing liquid, completely washing the same.

In Fig. 4: I have shown the device slightly modified. In this case thewashing-receptacle a is made round and is constructed of Three troughs care employed, and it may be here stated that the receptacle may be ofany suitable shape and any number of troughs employed. If the outercasing or receptacle is made cylindrical in shape, I preferably provideon the inner periphery a series of ribs or projections g, which, as thecasing is intermittently rotated, will assist in carrying up the printsand agitating the same.

It should be stated that the receptacle will be supported in anysuitable frame and any of the constructions herein may be modified tosuit the varying conditions.

7 The receptacle is preferably provided on one or more sides withglass-covered openings h, through which the operation of washing may beobserved from time to time, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a photographic-printwasher, a rotatin g casing adapted to be completely filled with thewashing liquid, said casing having outlet and inlet openings, and means,substantially as described, for automatically and intermittentlyrotating said casing for a portion of a revolution by the action of thewashing liquid which passes through said casing and escapes V at saidoutlet-opening, substantially as speci- 2. A washer, such as described,consisting essentially of a rotating casing having central supply anddischarge openings, the point of discharge being elevated to a pointabove the top of said casing, and retaining-receptacles on the outsideof said casing adapted to receive the liquid-discharge from said pointof discharge and cause the receptacle to in-' termittently rotate,substantiallyas specified.

3.- In a washer, such as described, a casing rotatable on hollowjournals or trunnions adapted to form inlet and outlet openings for saidcasing, an air-escape in said casing with means for closing the same,adetachable door or lid in one side of said casing, a hose pipe orconduit connected to the outlet-opening and extended to a point abovethe top of said casing, and means on the outer periphery of said casingto cause the same to revolve intermittently by the discharge from saidoutlet-opening, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a rotating casing having a detachable lid orcover on oneside thereof, an outlet and an inlet opening for saidcasing, and means, substantially as described, for rotating said casingintermittently and automatically by the discharge from saidoutlet-opening, substantially as specified.

5. The combination in a washer, -substan tially as described, having arotating casing adapted to rotate on hollow trunnions which form inletand outlet openings for said casing, screens at each end of said casingadjacent to said openings, each of said screens being provided with acentral deflector arranged opposite said inlet and outlet openings,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with the rotating casing, the hollow journals ortrunnions on which the same rotates, outlet and inlet openings inghaving the outlet and inlet openings as described, of a series oftroughs arranged on the outside of said casing, a pipe or conduitconnected to the discharge-opening with the dischargeend adjacent to theline of rotation of said troughs, each of said troughs being inclined orbeveled at one end, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with an intermittentlyrotating casing, and the hollowtrunnions on which the same revolve, outlet and inlet openings extendingthrough said trunnions, screens having deflectors arranged adjacent tosaid openings, a detachable lid on one side of said casing, and meansfor securing said lid in position, troughs or receptacles arrangedaround the outside of said casing, and

a discharge-pipe leading from said dischargeopening to a point abovesaid casing, and an adjustable holder for holding said dischargepipe indifferent positions to cause the same to discharge into said troughs orreceptacles, substantially as specified.

0. The combination with an outer rotatable casing having inlet andoutlet openings extending through the journals on which said casingrevolves, means for rotating said casing completely filled with Water orother liquid, and means, substantially as described,

DANIEL ARGERBRIGHT.

\Vitnesses:

J. H. DAVY, MAME SPIoER.

